Join us whenever you like in our Meditation Sittings every Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 pm, at the Friends Meeting House, 4211 Grand Ave., Des Moines (northwest corner of 42nd and Grand), and in our occasional retreats and other activities, announced by email and on our website. There is no charge. Contact any teacher with questions or issues.

Buddha’s
first teaching was on the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. It outlines the
causes of suffering and how to end them through eight practices in wisdom,
virtuous conduct, and mental discipline. Class lectures, discussions,
meditation exercises, and home assignments will assist participants in
intellectually and experientially applying the eight practices in daily life:
Wise Understanding, Wise Thought, Wise Speech, Wise Action, Wise Livelihood,
Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness and Wise Concentration.

While
especially recommended for those new to Buddhism, the class is also open to
experienced meditators who would like to review this teaching. It’s the same
class taught by Charlie at Plymouth a couple of years ago. Participants are
asked to commit themselves to meditating at least 15 minutes on at least three
days each week during the course and, hopefully, more often thereafter.

It is
recommended but not necessary to use the following book as a resource during
the course: “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness” by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana,
Wisdom Publications, 2001. Order from local book stores or online at www.amazon.com.

Charlie Day graduated from Roosevelt High School, received a
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa and has worked in
California, Iowa, India, and Thailand as a psychologist, psychotherapist, and
teacher. He returned to Des Moines in 1994 to work for the Des Moines Child and
Adolescent Guidance Center until retiring in 1997. Charlie has studied
meditation practices and spiritual traditions for over 45 years. He founded and
is the guiding teacher of the Des Moines Meditation Group; leads weekly
meditation groups and occasional retreats in Des Moines and at the Iowa
Correctional Institute for women in Mitchellville; administers the Group’s
website www.DesMoinesMeditation.org, on which
many of his articles appear; and guides individuals in their meditation and
spiritual practices.